Improved pavement



UNITED STATES PATENT QEEIGE.

CHARLES W. STAFFORD, OF SAYBROOK, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVED PAVEMENT.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 69,297, dated September 24, 1867; antedated May 16, 1867.

To all 'whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. STAF- FORD, of Saybrook, in the county ot' Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pavemcnts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part ot' this specitication, which is a perspective view of' three sections ot' my improved pavement with one corner removed.

The sections are constructed of blocks of wood, A, about three inches thick and eight inches deep, standing on the grain of the wood, and ot' such widths as to break joints in the section, bound together by double-doveA tailed keys B or dowels D, or both.

Longitudinal dovetailed strips C are driven in the base of the section, projecting below the lower surface so far as to afford a rm bearing in the earth and render the sectional block solid and immovable. Grooves E are then out in the surface of the section, either plain or of sufiicent depth to attord a cell for the insertion ot' tar and gravel or other suitable material. The section so constructed is then treated with coal-tar at a high temperature until the liber of the wood is thoroughly saturated, or the wood is prepared by other suitable preservative processes to render it less liable to decay, and then thoroughly tamped with sand and gravel.

The sections should be made in sizes convenient to handle, and t'or this purpose I prefer to construct them two feet by three feet. In laying these sections the street is graded and prepared.

Stringers F, two inchesthick by six inches wide, and of convenient length, prepared in a similar manner, are bedded iirnily into the earth transversely to the street, and one yard apart, so that their upper surfaces are at the grade of the street. Upon these stringers the sections are laid, so as to aii'ord a bearing of three inches at each end on the strin gers, the main portion being laid on the earth, which is thoroughly tamped to receive it.

The gutters are constructed by placing next the curb a section having its outer row ot' bloclrsraised and suitably rounded.

In raising any portion of this pavement,

for the purpose of reaching pipes or sewers, or laying the same, eyebolts are screwed into the section, through which is passed a bar. This being connected by a chain to a jackscrew, or other proper device, the section is readily lifted from its bed without imp-airing the structure of the pavement, which can be relaid without thenecessity of repairs.

It is apparent that in the construction of pavement of such large size in the shop and by machinery there is a great saving in labor over all previously-known processes, and that it is possible to lay it down in the street with great rapidity, thus effectin g great saving of time. The same convenience is manifest in relation to the temporary removal ot' the same for the purpose of repairs of pipes and sewers, making connections, Ste.

The alternate rows ot' sections are so laid as to break joints, so that in no case is there a longer crack than that between two contiguous sections.

Any shape may be given to the sections by sawing, so that the pavement can readily be adapted to any irregular form or angle ot the street.

My double-headed keys B hold the blocks against spreading, as well as imparting to them a mutual support against any vertical strain. Sections ot` blocks thus secured together may be sawed, hewed, trimmed, or cnt into any necessary shape without difculty and without impair-ing their t'astenin gs.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Vooden paving-blocks secured together in sections by double-dovetail strips or doubleheaded keys B, inserted in their sides, substantially as set forth.

2. I claim the stringers F, arranged transversely of the street, in combination with sectional paving-blocks, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. I clailn wooden paving-blocks connected in sections and grooved transversely, as described, and for the purposes set forth. y

o. W. sTAEFoRD.

Witnesses:

EI. C. LESTER, O. KNIGHT. 

